Goods scanning device for sales outlets

ABSTRACT

A goods scanning device in which the goods scanning window fitted in a housing is arranged upright beside the goods conveying surface has already been proposed. Furthermore, goods scanning devices in which the goods scanning window is arranged in the goods conveying surface and level with or above the latter are known from practice. In the case of the novel goods scanning device, the goods scanning performed by the goods scanning window is to be facilitated. 
     For this purpose, the housing (12) is adjustable in such a way that the goods scanning window (13) is located as desired in a horizontal or vertical position (B, C, D). In a preferred embodiment, the goods scanning window (13) is arranged in the horizontal position (B, D) as desired in the region of the goods conveying surface (11) and level with the latter or above the goods conveying surface (11) and at a distance therefrom. 
     The goods scanning device is particularly suitable for registering heavy and/or bulky articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a goods scanning device for sales.

Such a good scanning device is known from German reference DE 31 37 572A1. In the case of the known subject, a scanning device for readinggoods markings is arranged in a housing. The housing can be adjustedinto various positions along a circular path. In a position below thegoods conveying surface, the scanning is performed through a fixedlyarranged goods scanning window. In this position, the distance betweenthe goods marking on the goods and the scanning device is constant, sothat an exact reading-in of the goods marking can be performed. Whenadjusting into the vertical position and into the position above thegoods conveying surface, the goods scanning window is not adjusted atthe same time. This means that, in the vertical position, in which thehousing is arranged to the side of the goods, the distance between thescanning device and the goods marking can vary. As a result, thereading-in of the goods marking is impaired or even impossible.

A goods scanning device in which the goods scanning window is verticallyadjustable and arranged upright in each operating position has alreadybeen proposed. Furthermore, goods scanning devices in which the goodsscanning window is provided in a horizontal goods conveying surface andlevel with or above the latter are known from practice. For theirregistration, all the goods, products or articles must be deposited onthe goods conveying surface and taken past the goods scanning window, inorder that the goods marking can be scanned by a scanning devicearranged behind the goods scanning window. Problems in registration mayoccur in particular in the case of bulky and/or heavy articles, sincethese not only have to be lifted by the user, that is the operator orthe customer, onto the goods conveying surface, but also have to beturned in such a way that the goods marking provided on the goods isfacing the goods scanning window. Depending on the weight of thearticle, such an operation may require great exertion, so that in somecircumstances certain groups of users are not able at all to registerthe articles concerned themselves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the object of providing a goods scanningdevice of the type specified at the beginning which allows an exactreading-in of the goods marking in all positions of the housing.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a goods scanningdevice having a substantially horizontal goods conveying surface,forming a conveying path, having an adjustable housing, into which ascanning device for scanning a goods marking can be fitted. The housingis located as desired in a horizontal position, parallel to the goodsconveying surface, in which position it is arranged above the goodsconveying surface and at a distance therefrom or in the region of thegoods conveying surface, or in a position vertical to the goodsconveying surface. The goods scanning device also has a goods scanningwindow which extends parallel to the goods conveying direction andthrough which the goods marking can be scanned. The goods scanningwindow is part of the housing and can be adjusted together with thehousing. In the vertical position, the goods scanning window is arrangedupright beside the goods conveying surface. In the horizontal position,the goods scanning window is arranged in the region of the goodsconveying surface level with the latter.

It is consequently possible to arrange the housing, and consequently thegoods scanning window, as desired both in a horizontal position and in avertical position, so that turning of the goods to be registered has tobe carried out less frequently. Consequently, the goods scanning windowcan be adapted at least partially to the location of the goods marking.

In particular in large supermarkets, there is a great change, varyingaccording to the time of day and time of year, between large and smallarticles at the cash desk. Until now, these articles could only be paidfor at separate cash registers. The invention makes it possible to payfor both large and small articles at one and the same cash register.

In the vertical position, the goods scanning window is arranged uprightbeside the conveying surface. In the case of goods of the abovementionedtype, the goods markings are frequently on a side surface, so that forscanning their goods marking the goods concerned can simply be depositedon the goods conveying surface, without the need for laborious turningof the goods about a horizontal axis as required for cases where thegoods scanning window is provided in the goods conveying surface. In thecase of the arrangement of the goods scanning window in the verticalposition, it may be necessary, depending on where the goods marking isprovided, to turn the goods about a vertical axis in order that thegoods marking is turned toward the goods scanning window. However,turning of the articles concerned about a vertical axis can generally becarried out more easily than turning about a horizontal axis. If using agoods scanning device having an operating area with operating elementsarranged to the side of the conveying surface transversely to the goodsconveying direction, the goods scanning window may preferably bearranged on the side of the operating area near to the goods conveyingsurface. In this case, the goods scanning window may be provided insecuring means which are present in any case for the operating area andtherefore assume a type of dual function receiving both the operatingarea and the goods scanning window.

In the horizontal position, the goods scanning window is arranged asdesired in the region of the goods conveying surface and level with thelatter or above the goods conveying surface and at a distance therefrom.Consequently, it is possible to register articles on which the goodsmarking is provided on the upper side or underside or on a side wallwithout changing their position on the goods conveying surface. Forregistering the goods concerned, all that is required is to bring thehousing, with the goods scanning window located in it, into the positionwhich faces the goods marking. Depending on the weight of the goods tobe registered, adjusting the housing generally involves considerablyless exertion, however, than turning the goods into the position to beregistered.

Furthermore, it is favorable to arrange the housing in the same planetransversely to the goods conveying direction in all the positions ofthe goods scanning window. As a result, the goods conveying surface canbe of a relatively short design, so that normally, for adjusting thehousing, a user can stay in the position assumed for placing the goodson the goods conveying surface.

In the case of a further development of the goods scanning device, thehousing is guided displaceably with the aid of an L-shaped sliding guideand guide bolts engaging therein, the sliding guide preferably beingprovided partially on an approximately vertical support, partially on agoods scanning table connected to the latter and forming the goodsconveying surface. This provides a simple possible way of holding thehousing securely both in a horizontal position and in a verticalposition and of ensuring transfer from the one position into the otherposition and vice versa. There is advantageously provided in the supportand goods scanning table an L-shaped recess, open toward the goodsconveying surface, for at least partially receiving the housing, itbeing possible for the sliding guide to be arranged in side walls of therecess running transversely to the conveying direction. Due to the atleast partial arrangement of the housing in a recess the goods scanningwindow is also protected during operation of the goods scanning device,so that damage to the window can occur less easily. The sliding guidemay be worked into the support and the goods scanning table andtherefore be connected integrally therewith. It is also possible,however, to design the sliding guide as a profile and to fasten it toside walls of the recess running transversely to the goods conveyingdirection. This embodiment has the advantage that, if need be, thesliding guide can be easily repaired and exchanged. In the case of afurther development, the sliding guide has a horizontal section and avertical section, the horizontal section being arranged in the region ofthe recess formed in the goods scanning table and the vertical sectionbeing arranged in the region of the recess formed in the support. Thesliding guide is consequently provided simply on parts of the goodsscanning device which are normally present in any case and are alreadyin a horizontal or vertical position.

The sliding guide is preferably a guide groove which extends along thehorizontal and vertical section and, in the case of a furtherdevelopment, has, near to its upper end, a shoulder which subdivides theguide groove into a part situated below and a part situated above, thelatter having a smaller groove depth than the former. The guide boltsare preferably provided as protruding laterally from the housing, nearto its ends, the guide bolts arranged near to the one end, guidedexclusively in the part of greater groove depth, having a lengthcorresponding approximately to this groove depth, and the guide boltsarranged near to the other end having a length correspondingapproximately to the smaller groove depth. This makes it possible toguide one end of the housing constantly in the guide groove, but on theother hand to guide another end in the guide groove only in certainwindow positions. This give can give rise to advantages in particular tothe effect that the guide bolts of greater length can be supported onthe shoulder of the guide groove, so that the housing is held, at leastat one end, in particular in its horizontal position at a distance fromthe goods conveying surface.

The guide groove extending in the vertical section is preferably open atthe top, so that the guide bolts of the length corresponding to thesmaller groove depth, located at the upper end of the housing in thevertical position of the goods scanning window, can disengage from theguide groove when the housing is pushed up. This permits a swivellingmovement of the housing about the axis of the guide bolts of greaterlength out of the vertical position into the horizontal position of thegoods scanning window. Above the part of the recess formed in the goodsscanning table there is preferably provided a rest for the housingarranged above the part concerned of the recess and at a distancetherefrom, which rest at least partially shortens the distance betweenmutually opposite sliding guides, the upper edge of the rest beingarranged below a horizontal plane intersecting the upper end of theshoulder provided in the guide groove. As a result, the housing is heldsecurely in a position which allows a position of the goods scanningwindow at a distance from the goods scanning surface and parallelthereto. The housing is consequently supported securely on the one handby its guide bolts on the shoulder of the guide groove, on the otherhand on the rest, so that unintentional adjusting of the housing isprevented to a great extent.

In the case of a further development of the goods scanning device, thevertical distance between the upper edge of the rest and the upper endof the shoulder corresponds to the vertical distance between the wall ofthe housing receiving the goods scanning window and the outer end of theguide bolts, remote from the wall. It is ensured by this measure that,in the position at a distance from the goods conveying surface, thehousing, and consequently the goods scanning window, is alignedapproximately horizontally and parallel to the goods conveying surface.

It is favorable furthermore to provide in the region of the part of therecess formed in the goods scanning table a sprung base which isprestressed into a position level with the goods conveying surface andcan be arrested in this position. This on the one hand provides a levelgoods conveying surface, so that the goods to be registered can bereadily pushed from one side of the goods conveying surface onto theother. On the other hand, adjusting of the goods scanning window locatedin the vertical position into the horizontal position level with thegoods conveying surface is prevented, so that this position can only beadopted when the sprung base is pressed downward against itsprestressing. Consequently, unintentional displacing of the housing intothe position of the goods scanning window level with the goods conveyingsurface is ruled out to a great extent.

It is favorable furthermore to increase the power of a scanning devicearranged behind the goods scanning window when the goods scanning windowis located in its horizontal position above the goods conveying surfaceand at a distance therefrom. Consequently, registration of goods is alsopossible in the described position of the goods scanning window in whichthere is a relatively great distance between the goods scanning windowand the goods marking on the goods. On the other hand, the increase inthe power of the scanner, generally a laser, is not dangerous in thisposition, since it emits downward and thus cannot shine into people'seyes. Advantageously, the sliding guide of the housing, preferablytogether with the support, is vertically adjustable independently of thegoods scanning table or with the latter. This makes it possible to adaptthe goods conveying surface exactly to the level of the articles to beregistered which are concerned, so that the latter can simply be pushedonto the goods conveying surface. The height of the goods conveyingsurface can consequently be matched to the height of the conveyingmeans. Adjusting of the goods scanning table, and consequently of thegoods conveying surface, can consequently have automatically as aconsequence a corresponding adjusting of the goods scanning window.Thus, the user does not have to consider whether the goods scanningwindow is adjusted at a height suitable for registering the goods if theheight of the goods scanning table is altered. Consequently, it isreadily possible for a user to unload in stages a cart loaded in severallayers and, when so doing, to adjust the goods conveying surface alwaysto the optimum height, i.e. adapted to the respective layer. It may,however, also be possible to adjust the sliding guide, and consequentlythe goods scanning window, vertically in relation to the goods scanningtable. It may namely be required, in particular in the case of heavyproducts of large volume, to adjust the goods scanning table into aposition near to the floor and the goods scanning window into a positionfar from the floor, because the goods marking to be scanned is providedapproximately half-way up the goods or near to the upper edge thereof.With this embodiment of the goods scanning device, therefore, goodsmarkings provided at remote points can also be machine-scanned, so thatthere is no need for tiresome, time-consuming and error-affected manualinput of the data, for example on an input keyboard. All the articlescan consequently be scanned with the user in an upright, ergonomicallycorrect position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel,are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention,together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood byreference to the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in the several Figures of which like referencenumerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic, partially sectioned side view of a goodsscanning device with a housing, receiving a goods scanning window, invarious positions;

FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic, perspective view of the housing accordingto FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic, perspective view of the goods scanningdevice; and

FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic, perspective view of a sliding guidereceiving the housing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1 a goods scanning device 1 for sales outlets is showndiagrammatically in a partially sectioned representation. The goodsscanning device 1 has a front column 2 (in FIG. 1 facing to the right)and a rear column 3 (in FIG. 1 facing to the left), which are connectedto each other and the lower ends of which are connected firmly to afloor 5 by means of a pedestal 4, for example with the aid of fasteningscrews (not shown). According to FIG. 3, the front column 2 hasflattened-off corners 6.

According to FIGS. 1 and 3, a support 7 is guided verticallydisplaceably in a way not represented in any more detail on the frontcolumn 2 (see arrows E, F). It is, however, also possible to design thesupport in the form of a column and connect it directly to the pedestaland the floor. Fastened on the support 7 is a goods scanning table 10,which has a horizontal goods conveying surface 11, forming a conveyingpath, as upper side. Also arranged on the support 7 is an adjustablehousing 12, in which there is fitted a goods scanning window 13 whichfaces the region above the goods conveying surface 11, extends parallelto the goods conveying direction (see arrow A in FIG. 3) and, due to theadjustable housing 12, is located as desired in a horizontal or verticalposition B, C, D. In the vertical position C (dashed-linerepresentation) , the goods scanning window 13 is arranged uprightbeside the goods conveying surface 11, whereas in the horizontalposition it is arranged as desired in the region of the goods conveyingsurface 11 (see position D in solid lines) and level with the latter orabove the goods conveying surface 11 (see position B in dot-dashedlines) ana at a distance therefrom. Since the goods scanning window 11is arranged in the housing 12 in such a way that it is level with a wall14 of the housing, in order to arrange the goods scanning window in thedesired position B, C or D, the housing 12 is adjusted in such a waythat at least the wall 14 of the housing 12 is in the same position asthe goods scanning window 13.

According to FIGS. 1 and 3, in all the positions B, C, D of the goodsscanning window 13, the housing 12 is arranged in the same planetransversely to the goods conveying direction (see arrow A) and isguided displaceably with the aid of an L-shaped sliding guide 15 andguide bolts 16, 17 engaging therein. The sliding guide 15 is shown inmore detail in FIGS. 1 and 4 and has a horizontal section 20 and avertical section 21, the former being provided on the goods scanningtable 10, the latter on the support 7, as is explained in more detailbelow.

Both in the support 7 and in the goods scanning table 10 there isprovided an L-shaped recess 22 which is open toward the goods conveyingsurface 11 and is dimensioned in such a way that the housing 12 can bereceived completely in it. Accordingly, the width of the recess isslightly greater than the width of the housing and the depth of therecess is slightly greater than the depth or height of the housing. Thelength of the horizontal section 20 corresponds approximately to thelength of the housing 12, whereas the length of the vertical section 21is determined by the length of the housing 12 and the amount of verticaldisplacement of the housing 12 in relation to the goods conveyingsurface. For holding the housing, the sliding guide 15 is arranged inside walls of the recess 22 running transversely to the goods conveyingdirection (see arrow A). As FIGS. 1 and 3 reveal in particular, thehorizontal section 20 is thus arranged in the region of the recess 22formed in the goods scanning table 10 and the vertical section 21 isarranged in the region of the recess formed in the support 7.

According to FIGS. 1 and 4, the sliding guide 15 is a guide groove 24which extends along the horizontal and vertical section 20, 21 and has,near to its upper end 25, a shoulder 26 which subdivides the guidegroove 24 into a part 27 situated above and a part 28 situated below,the former (27) having a smaller groove depth than the latter (28).

According to FIG. 4, the part 27 of the guide groove 24 is open at thetop and conically widened. Provided in the region above the horizontalsection 20 is a supporting device 30 which is integrally connected tothe vertical section 21 of the sliding guide 15 and serves as a rest 31for the housing 12 arranged above the part of the recess 22 formed inthe goods scanning table and at a distance therefrom. The rest 31laterally adjoins the supporting device 30 in such a way that thedistance in the installed state between mutually opposite sliding guides15 is partially shortened. The shortest distance between end faces 32 ofthe rests 31 is less than the width of the housing 12. The rest 31 isattached to the vertical section 21 of the sliding guide 15 in such away that the upper edge 33 of the rest 31 is arranged below a horizontalplane intersecting the upper end of the shoulder 26 provided in theguide groove 24. As shown in FIG. 4, the shoulder 26 in the guide groove24 is approximately semi-cylindrically designed; it may, however, alsobe rectangularly shaped. The sliding guide 15 is fastened detachably tothe side walls 23 of the recess 22 with the aid of fastening means (notshown in any more detail), such as for example screws, fitted inthrough-holes 34. It is also possible, however, to work the guide groove24 directly into the side wall of the recess.

The guide bolts 16, 17 are provided as protruding laterally from thehousing 12, near to its ends 35, 36, the guide bolts 16 arranged near tothe one end 35 being guided exclusively in the part 28 of greater groovedepth and having a length corresponding to this groove depth. The guidebolts 17 arranged near to the other end 36 have a length correspondingapproximately to the smaller groove depth. It follows from this that theguide bolts 17 can disengage from the guide groove 24 when the housing12 is pushed up out of the position C into the position B of the goodsscanning window 13, since the guide bolts 17 can be taken past theshoulder 26. The shoulder 26 thus does not represent a limitation of thedisplacing path for the guide bolts 17.

Let into the wall 14 of the housing 12 on each of mutually oppositesides of the goods scanning window 13 is a hinged grip 37, which isprestressed in the direction of its position level with the wall 14 (seeFIG. 2). With the aid of these grips 37, the housing can be easilytransferred out of the one position into the other position of the goodsscanning window. In each position of the goods scanning window 13, theend 35 of the housing 12 remains within the recess 22 and is connectedto a cable 40 in order to connect the scanning device (not shown),fitted behind the goods scanning window 13, to an electrical orelectronic control unit (not shown).

The guide bolts 16, 17 are attached laterally to the housing 12 in sucha way that the vertical distance between the upper edge 33 of the rest31 and the upper end of the shoulder 26 corresponds to the verticaldistance between the wall 14 and the outer end of the guide bolts,remote from the wall. As FIGS. 1 and 2 reveal in detail, all the guidebolts 16 and 17 are at the same distance away from the wall 14 of thehousing 12.

According to FIGS. 1 and 3, in the region of the part of the recess 22formed in the goods scanning table 10 there is provided a sprung base 41which is prestressed into a position level with the goods conveyingsurface 11 with the aid of a stressing device designed as a spring 42and can be arrested in this position in a way not shown. The sprung base41 is fastened by means of scissors-forming, crossing bars 43 to aholding device 44, connected to the goods scanning table 10, in such away that the bars 43 can move in relation to each other and the sprungbase is adjustable only parallel to itself. For this purpose, the endsof each bar are swivel-mounted, one end being additionally displaceablein a slot 45. Such a slot 45 is provided both on the holding device 44and on the sprung base 41. The sprung base 41 consequently closes thepart of the recess 22 formed in the goods scanning table 10 when thegoods scanning window 13 is located with the housing 12 in its positionB or C. In these cases, the upper side of the sprung base 41 is levelwith the goods conveying surface ii. When the goods scanning window islocated in the position D, the wall 14 is level with the goods conveyingsurface 11, so that there is a level goods conveying surface 11irrespective of the position of the goods scanning window.

When the goods scanning window 13 is located in its horizontal positionB above the goods conveying surface 11 and at a distance therefrom, thepower of a scanning device (not shown) arranged behind the goodsscanning window 13 is increased, in order to be able to scan properlygoods markings which are at a relatively great distance from the goodsscanning window. It is possible furthermore to provide the scanningdevice with an automatic focusing device.

In the case of a further development of the goods scanning device, thesliding guide 15 of the housing 12 is vertically adjustable togetherwith the support 7 and the goods scanning table 10, the support 7 beingdisplaceable up and down on the front column 2 (see arrows E, F in FIGS.1 and 3). For fixing the height of the support 7, there is providedlaterally on the rear column 3 a hinged lever 46, with the aid of whichthe support 7 is vertically adjustable in a way not shown in any moredetail. According to FIG. 1, however, the lever 46 may also be omittedif the height adjustment of the support can be carried out in some otherway, for example by means of foot switches (not shown) or anelectromotive drive.

Provided at the upper end of the support 7 is a flap 47 which closes thepart of the recess 22 provided in the support and is hinge-mounted onthe support. When the housing is adjusted out of the position B into theposition C of the goods scanning window, the housing 12 is initiallyswivelled upward about the axis of its guide bolts 16, the flap 47moving in the direction of the arrow G.

An operating area 50 with operating elements 51 is arranged in anattachment 52 on the upper side of the rear column 3 above the goodsconveying surface 11 and transversely to the goods conveying direction.Along with the operating elements 51, the attachment 52 may also receivean output opening and a visual display unit which has a screen and isconnected to the attachment 52 directly or by means of a supportingdevice (not shown). The operating elements may be designed as an inputkeyboard and/or control keyboard. The output opening may, for example,be an output tray for a receipt or sales slip. In the attachment 52there may also be provided a document printer, which prints on a receiptthe data or information on the goods registered with the aid of thescanning device.

The grips 37 provided on the housing 12 may also be designeddifferently, for example as bars let into the housing. Furthermore, itis possible to connect the supporting device 30 to the support 7, forexample, instead of to the sliding guide 15. The supporting device may,however, also be attached to some other element of the goods scanningdevice. The rest 31 preferably acts on the housing (see arrow H) in sucha way that the bearing point is at a smaller distance from the guidebolts 16 than the center of gravity of the housing 12. In this case, onaccount of the torques occurring around the bearing point, the housingis held securely in its position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 (position B ofthe goods scanning window) . The counteracting force (see arrow I inFIG. 1) is absorbed by the guide bolt 16 held on the shoulder 26.

The operation of the goods scanning device is explained below by way ofexample.

The user, for example a customer in a sales outlet, travels with hiscart loaded with goods up to the goods scanning table 10 of the goodsscanning device 1, for example from the right, and subsequently adjuststhe height of the goods conveying surface 11, for example by actuatingthe lever 46, preferably to the height of the individual goods on thecart in such a way that, wherever possible, bulky and/or heavy goods donot have to be lifted onto the goods conveying surface 11 but can bepushed onto it. The goods are then located on the goods conveyingsurface 11 and are taken along the goods conveying direction (see arrowA) past the goods scanning window 13 in such a way that the goodsmarking (bar-code marking) is scanned by the scanning device locatedbehind the window and the information on said marking can be displayedand/or transferred to a data processing system (not shown).

For taking the goods marking past the goods scanning window, the housingreceiving the goods scanning window is adjusted in such a way that theregistration can be performed as far as possible without turning aroundor turning over the goods located on the goods scanning table. If thegoods marking is provided on the upper side of the goods, the goods canbe displaced on the goods scanning table 10 in the direction of thearrow A in such a way that the goods marking is taken past below thegoods scanning window 13 located in the position B (see FIG. 3) . It isclear that in this case the height of the goods must be less than thedistance of the wall 14 of the housing 12 from the goods conveyingsurface 11. In the case of an illustrative embodiment not shown in anymore detail, it may be possible to adjust the goods scanning table 10 inrelation to the goods scanning window located in the position B in sucha way that the distance between the wall 14 of the housing 12 and thegoods conveying surface 11 is increased or reduced.

If, on the other hand, the goods marking is located on a side surface ofthe goods to be registered (preferably facing away from the user) ,before the goods are registered the goods scanning window is transferredtogether with the housing out of the position B into the position C bythe housing being grasped at the grip 37 arranged near to the shortguide bolts 17 and swivelled upward about the axes of the long guidebolts 16 until the axes of the guide bolts 16, 17 are arrangedvertically one above the other. In this swivelling movement, the flap 47is displaced in the direction of the arrow G. Subsequently, the housing12 is displaced downward until the position B of the goods scanningwindow 13 is reached. In this position, all the guide bolts 16, 17 arein engagement with the guide groove 24, the guide bolts 16 are locatedin the transitional region between the horizontal section 20 andvertical section 21 of the sliding guide 15. In the position B of thegoods scanning window, the flap 47 has again assumed its position shownin FIGS. 1 and 3. The goods marking located on the side surface of thegoods is subsequently taken past the upright goods scanning window.

It is possible furthermore for the goods marking of the goods depositedon the goods conveying surface 11 to be located on the underside of thegoods. In this case, before the goods are registered, the goods scanningwindow is transferred out of its vertical position C into the horizontalposition D by the housing 12 being drawn with the aid of the grip 37,provided near to the guide bolts 16, to the right in FIG. 1, i.e. towardthe user. The sprung base 41 is thereby pressed downward in FIG. 1against the force of the spring 42. As a result, the guide bolts 16 aremoved along the horizontal section 20 and the guide bolts 17 are movedalong the vertical section 21 of the sliding guide 15. In the positionD, all the guide bolts are in a common horizontal plane.

When transferring the goods scanning window out of the horizontalposition D into the vertical position B, the sprung base 41 slidesautomatically upward and assumes its position level with the goodsconveying surface 11. In the case of the goods scanning window in theposition D as well, to register the goods they are simply pushed alongthe goods conveying direction (see arrow A) over the goods conveyingsurface 11.

The goods taken over the goods conveying surface 11 past the goodsscanning window 13 may be deposited, for example, in a goods basket (notshown) put in place to the left of the goods scanning device 1. Thegoods scanning device may be designed in such a way that the customersubsequently pays the amount printed on a receipt and displayed by avisual display unit either by means of a customer or credit card via acard reader (not shown) or using money input and output openings, whichmay be arranged on the operating area 50. It is, of course, alsopossible to pay the invoice amount at a cash point set up separately. Inaddition, the goods scanning device may be equipped in such a way that,if problems occur with the goods scanning, the customer can call on asupervisor, for example via a control keyboard. Consequently, thescanning of goods, in particular bulky and/or heavy articles, issimplified considerably.

The invention is not limited to the particular details of the apparatusdepicted and other modifications and applications are contemplated.Certain other changes may be made in the above described apparatuswithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention hereininvolved. It is intended, therefore, that the subject matter in theabove depiction shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A goods scanning device for sales outlets,comprising: a substantially horizontal goods conveying surface, forminga conveying path; an adjustable housing, into which a scanning devicefor scanning a goods marking is fitted, the housing being locatable inat least first and second horizontal positions parallel to the goodsconveying surface, in said first horizontal position the housing beingarranged above the goods conveying surface and at a distance therefrom,in said second horizontal position the housing being arranged in aregion of the goods conveying surface, or in a third position verticalto the goods conveying surface; the housing having a goods scanningwindow which extends parallel to the goods conveying direction andthrough which the goods marking is scannable; the goods scanning windowbeing part of the housing and adjusted together with the housing; in thevertical third position of the housing, the goods scanning window beingvertically arranged beside the goods conveying surface; and in thesecond horizontal position, the goods scanning window being arranged inthe region of the goods conveying surface level with the goods conveyingsurface.
 2. The goods scanning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein thegoods conveying surface is a goods scanning table which has a recess inwhich is arranged a sprung base which is prestressed into a positionlevel with the tools conveying surface and which is fixable in thisposition.
 3. The goods scanning device as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe housing is guided displaceably with the aid of an L-shaped slidingguide and has a plurality of guide bolts engaging with the guide.
 4. Thegoods scanning device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sliding guideis provided partially on an approximately vertical support, partially onthe goods scanning table connected to the vertical support and formingthe goods conveying surface.
 5. The goods scanning device as claimed inclaim 4, wherein the support and goods scanning table together have anL-shaped recess, open toward the goods conveying surface, for at leastpartially receiving the housing, wherein the sliding guide is arrangedin side walls of the recess running transversely to the goods conveyingdirection and is formed by a guide groove, and wherein the sliding guidehas a horizontal section and a vertical section, the horizontal sectionbeing arranged in a region of the recess in the goods scanning table andthe vertical section being arranged in a region of the recess in thesupport.
 6. The goods scanning device as claimed in claim 5, wherein theguide groove has, near to an upper end thereto, a shoulder whichsubdivides the guide groove into an upper part situated above theshoulder and a lower part situated below, the upper part having asmaller groove depth than the lower part, and wherein the plurality ofguide bolts are provided as protruding laterally from the housing, nearrespective ends of the hosing, guide bolts of the plurality of guidebolts arranged near one end of the housing, guided exclusively in thelower part of greater groove depth, having a length correspondingapproximately to this groove depth, and guide bolts of the housingarranged near the other end of the housing having a length correspondingapproximately to the smaller groove depth.
 7. The goods scanning deviceas claimed in claim 6, wherein the upper part of the guide grooveextending in the vertical section is open at a top thereof, so that theguide bolts of the length corresponding to the smaller groove depth,located at an upper end of the housing in the vertical position of thegoods scanning window, can disengage from the guide groove when thehousing is pushed up.
 8. The tools scanning device as claimed in claim6, wherein above the region of the recess formed in the goods scanningtable is provided a rest for the housing, the rest being above the areaof the recess formed in the goods scanning table and at a distancetherefrom, which rest at least partially shortens the distance betweenmutually opposite sliding guides, an upper edge of the rest beingarranged below a horizontal plane intersecting an upper end of theshoulder provided in the guide groove.
 9. The goods scanning device asclaimed in claim 8, wherein a vertical distance between the upper edgeof the rest and the upper end of the shoulder corresponds to a verticaldistance between a wall of the housing receiving the goods scanningwindow and an outer end of the guide bolts, remote from the wall. 10.The goods scanning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the goodsscanning device further comprises a scanning device arranged behind thegoods scanning window and wherein a power level of the scanning devicearranged behind the goods scanning window is increased when the goodsscanning window is located in the first horizontal position above thegoods conveying surface and at a distance therefrom.
 11. The goodsscanning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding guide for thehousing, is vertically adjustable with or without the goods scanningtable.
 12. The goods scanning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein thegoods scanning device further comprises a support for holding thehousing and wherein the sliding guide for the housing together with thesupport is vertically adjustable with or without the goods scanningtable.